Former Planned Parenthood VP Will Replace Al Franken

"An abortion industry insider"

Now that "gropey" Al Franken has been booted from the Senate, Minnesotans can look forward to having him replaced by a politician free from controversy and one who is better able to represent the voice of the people. Right?

Leo LaLonde, President of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, called her appointment "egregious."

"Gov. Mark Dayton’s appointment of Tina Smith to represent Minnesota in the U.S. Senate is overwhelmingly disappointing to the state’s pro-life majority," he told LifeNews. "An abortion industry insider, Ms. Smith is a former vice president of Planned Parenthood in Minnesota, the state’s leading performer of abortion. The choice of Ms. Smith is particularly egregious to Minnesota’s pro-life citizens, who will have no representation in the Senate."

He added: "Most Minnesotans are pro-life. They support greater protection for unborn human beings. Minnesotans need someone who will fight for justice for the most vulnerable among us, the unborn."

Tina Smith has been currently serving as the state's lieutenant governor. LifeNews profiled her long and well-documented history of advocating abortion on demand:

Smith is a former vice president at Planned Parenthood in Minnesota. As a leader in the state’s abortion industry, she put her marketing background to work for Planned Parenthood from January 2003 to February 2006. The organization performed 9,717 abortions in Minnesota during that period, and increased its abortions by 22 percent. It was also reimbursed $458,574.74 by Minnesota taxpayers for performing 1,892 abortions on low-income women. Planned Parenthood became the largest abortion provider in the state in 2004—and has held that position ever since. It received $12.65 million in government grants from 2003 to 2005.

Smith also led the abortion conglomerate in their fight against Woman's Right to Know, which sought to inform women about abortion's risks and complications, and opposed the Positive Alternatives Act of 2005, which "provides pregnant women in need with practical assistance and life-affirming alternatives to abortion." She has also asserted that pregnancy centers should have their state grants stripped if they do not refer abortions.